I arrived home and threw my bag on the couch.
"AHH!" I heard a familiar sound coming from where I just threw my bag and it came flying right back at me.
"Did you fall asleep again Tomoe? Y'know you're not meant to be having day naps anymore…" I said as I caught the bag and saw my sister asleep.
"Just because I'm 17 doesn't mean I can't Machi!" she said back all drowsy but with a little fire in her eyes.
I ignored her and walked upstairs. Our house was pretty big- but for a good reason. There are five of us. Our mother said it started off with just me, but they saw how lonely I was and decided to have another, which ended up being Tomoe. But when Tomoe was 1 and a half she was pretty close to dying, and Dad said if they didn't have another now then I would be lonely as the age gap would be too big.
Honestly I don't ever remember being lonely or unhappy as a child but they still had another, Yuki. But then Tomoe recovered and Mother once again fell pregnant. With twins. Even though our parents were happy, they were worried about our financial future and getting a house to accommodate all of us.
But when the twins, Natsuki and Misaki were born things took a turn for the worst. Mother died. We all went swimming one day and she drowned. They said her foot got caught in a fish net or something.
I was only four, Tomoe was three, Yuki was two and the twins were barely one. And then three years of struggling later Dad died as well. And then and only then did our only other blood relatives show. Our grandparents. And they only showed because our uncle that we've never heard of died alone with no kids to succeed him. They only showed because I'm the only heir they have left.
So with that note they have been paying for us ever since, but we hardly ever see them.
I walked upstairs to my room and passed Yuki on the way. Even though she's the middle child she's almost as tall as me. But I'm not too tall either so I guess that's not hard.
"Hey Machi, look what I got!" she said and proudly put on a light purple beanie with a little pom pom on the top of it. Geez, she always was a bit of a fashionista. Although I am proud of her, she never gives up on anything and always stands up for what she believes in.
"Cute, did you make it yourself?"
"You bet! And I made the twins some too!" she said proudly. The twins were her dress up dolls, but only because Tomoe wouldn't be. Tomoe was so small because of her being so sick when she was little, but she made up for it in feistiness.
We both heard the door open down stairs and with an excited "That'll be them now!" Yuki left. My poor identical twins.
When I finally collapsed on my bed I heard Tomoe call from downstairs "DINNER IN FIFTEEN MINUTES!" great. Oh yeah I never said why I had the bag and where I was did I? Well, today is Sunday which means I go out and train for hours on end with my sisters before they either go home and sleep the day away (Tomoe), design clothes (Yuki) or go to an elite dance school (Twins) while I go out and train some more.
So that's why I had a gym bag.
20 minutes and a shower later I was eating homemade cooking by Natsuki and Misaki. Even though our grandparents gave us money that was basically it. So naturally we had to learn how to do things ourselves.
"Do you like it?" the twins nervously said in unison. They have always been very shy, even though they were talented at basically everything. And they were really pretty too, both with light sky blue hair and big dark blue eyes. But they got picked on a bit because of it, as most people thought it was fake. But not many people did anymore on account of what Yuki did to the last ones.
"You know we do!" I said and everyone started nodding vigorously.
Then it was Tomoe's dessert time. Even though she claims she hates sweets and pink and pretty much everything cute or girly, we know she loves it all. But because of her height people usually treat her like a little girl so she tries to act tough. But despite that she makes the BEST desserts!
Just after that the doorbell rang. We all froze at the dinner table and I stood up. We never got visitors or anything, in fact it was probably the second time that doorbell had rung ever- the first had been Natsuki and Misaki but it freaked them out so we never used it.
I opened the door to see a man in a black suit who quickly stepped aside to reveal an old man.
"Hello granddaughter, are your sister's home too?" he said seriously.
"Grandfather? Oh, yes they are! Please come in!" I said a little surprised. He looked like he had aged far beyond his years with stress lines all over his face.
"No that won't be necessary. I just came to give you this and to let you know I'll be waiting at the airport tomorrow morning at nine. Don't be late." He said and handed me a thin envelope
"Airport?" I asked and he just smiled a business smile and told me to read the letter. And with that he was gone.
Umm what just happened? I slowly opened the thick red seal on the envelope and pulled out the letter inside. Five little necklaces then fell from it and landed on the door step.
Dear my granddaughters and especially Machi,
I regret to inform you that your wonderful grandmother has died. As all of our or rather her riches, companies and land was in her name and only a small percent was in mine we have reached an issue. She was kind and wanted you to be able to live your lives like your mother would've wanted and inherit the companies when you are older and more experienced. I was appointed caretaker until you come of age or I die, but as I am nearing my end I think you need some proper 'preparation' of sorts.
Also so I can keep you all in track easier and so you can adjust to how it will be like when you take over, I have made the decision to move you from New York and over to our estate in Japan.
Enclosed are five plane tickets and a token for each of you that used to belong to your mother. There will be a car to take you to the airport at eight o'clock.
Sincerely you're Grandfather.
I could feel myself going cold. We had lives here! We had friends here and the studios and gyms weren't just a hobby, they were a haven. But why hadn't we known that it was all grandmother keeping us here? But we don't exactly have a choice and I can't find a way out of this. What would mother and father want us to do? They would probably want us to go and at least try I guess.
I realised I was still standing in the doorway and quickly went back inside. This is our future. No one can change that fact.
I made my way back to the kitchen and everything was already packed up with my sister sitting patiently apart from Tomoe who was complaining with her head on the table.
"So who was it?" Yuki asked.
"Yeah you've been gone a while" Tomoe added grumpily.
"Shush Tomo,"
"Are you ok Machi?" the twins said probably noticing my pale skin.
"Who was it?" Yuki said seriously which was rare for her.
"Grandfather, and we need to pack our bags." I said as strongly as I could.
"The old tycoon ain't kicking us out is he?" Tomoe shouted with a fire in her eyes.
"No, we're moving to Japan." I said back but my voice was starting to falter.
"When?" Was the twins only response as they were the only ones brave enough to speak.
"Tomorrow morning. We need to pack, now!" I said and the twins ran to their room squealing with joy. Yuki looked shocked and slowly a flow of tears started falling.
"But we have lives here! What about our friends? What about the, the- the everything! We barely know Japanese and we barely look Japanese too!" she said and stormed off with her head held high. "I'll do it, but only for Mother!" She shouted from the stairs.
"Machi, are you ok?" Tomoe asked me.
"I'm fine. You?"
"Coping. It might not be so bad after all I guess. And I needed a break from all the losers here anyway and you needed a break from paperwork and that stupid school council you're on."
"And we might even fit in there. It's not every day you meet five blue haired girls with stunning looks, they should count themselves lucky."
She left and I heard a call a short moment later "You better pack too."
I held tight to the letter and walk to my room. But as I passed the front door I noticed something flickering out of the corner of my eye. I picked up the five necklaces the letter mentioned and continued to my room. I looked at one and it was a beautifully crafted rose that opened to a crystal. The one I was holding had a deep royal blue gem that looked just like a teardrop.
I fastened it around my neck and hoped for the best.
After all, what could possibly happen? A life of the cruel and cunning business world awaits.